The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is at work again improving roadways in Northeast Texas. Included in the 2014 summer upgrades are three county road bridges in Franklin and Hopkins counties at a cost of more than $683,000.

The second phase of the City of Mount Vernon’s downtown sidewalk project has hit an electrical snag. The cost of moving electrical service from in front of the buildings along the east side of the square has been estimated at $35,000.

Van Stanley, a land owner, finds he is still without protection in accessing 42 acres of land-locked property. A petition presented to the Franklin County Commissioner’s Court at their regular meeting Monday, June 9 was determined not to meet legal requirements for such requests.

Franklin County budget hearings for the 2015 Budget year have been set for Monday and Tuesday, June 16 and 17. This is the chance for the various groups and departments to present their reasons behind the individual budget item requests.

Chuck Mericle approached both the Mount Vernon City Council and the Franklin County Commissioners Court about sponsoring donation jars / bottles to collect funds to construct a new and much larger library.